Exhaust system support



April 25, 1961 R. H. KNICKERBOCKER ET AL EXHAUST SYSTEM SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1959 I I I n w ATTORNEY A ril 25, 1961 R. H. KNICKERBOCKER ET AL 2,981,351

EXHAUST SYSTEM SUPPORT Filed Sept. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent EXHAUST SYSTEM SUPPORT Robert H. Knickerbocker, Detroit, and Harry L. Redding,

Pontiac, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 839,433 r 6 Claims. (Cl. 180-64) The present invention relates to an improved type hanger for an automobile exhaust pipe which is adapted to permit movement of the exhaust pipe relative to the hanger due to temperature changes in the exhaust pipe.

It is common to experience expansion in an automobile exhaust tail pipe due to changes in tail pipe temperature. In the present invention a bracket member is mounted on the side of the vehicle frame and which bracket, in turn, supports an insulating material thereon. The insulating material is formed to provide a longitudinal opening therethrough within which a strap member suitably fixed to the exhaust pipe is adapted to extend. Thus as the exhaust pipe temperature changes causing expansion or contraction of the pipe the strap may move longitudinally within the opening. The movement is achieved in such a way as not to unduly fatigue the insulating material and yet which expansion is achieved without transmitting any undue stresses to the tail pipe supporting bracket.

The details as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a perusal of the detailed description which follows.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a vehicle frame embodying the subject hanger mechanism;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the hanger;

Figure 3 is a view along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view along line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are modifications of the subject invention; and

Figure 7 is a view along line 7--7 of Figure 6.

A vehicle frame is indicated generally at 10 and includes a muffler 12 and tail pipe 13 supported upon the frame through identical hangers 14. As best seen in Figure 3, each hanger 14 includes a right angle bracket member having a leg 18 adapted to abuttingly engage the side Wall 80 of frame 10 and is retained thereagainst by suitable stud means 22. An opening 24 is formed in frame side wall 20 and is adapted to receive a tab portion 26 formed on bracket leg 18 for the purpose of longitudinally locating the hanger. The bracket member also includes a horizontally extending leg portion 28 having a raised center portion 30. A pair of insulating straps 32 and 34 are secured to bracket leg 28 through a pair of rivet members 36 and 38 having enlarged head portions. Straps 32 and '34 insulate frame 10 from the transmission thereto of both heat and vibration.

While they must be resilient, insulating straps 32 and 34 must also be formed of a relatively tough material to withstand the vibrations to which the tail pipe is subjected. Accordingly, the straps may be formed from a 4 ply tire sidewall carcass which provides the requisite resilience and toughness. Straps 32 and 34 are assembled in such a Way as to permit the center portions thereof to be separated to provide an opening 40 therebetween.

As best seen in Figure 4, a metal strap member 42 includes a long leg 44 which extends between the resilient ,7 2,981,351 Patented Apr. 25, 1961 'ice insulating straps 32 and 34 and a short leg 46 of arcuate cross section adapted to engage with tail pipe 13. Long strap leg 44 terminates in a curved portion 48 which prevents the strap from becoming disassembled from the insulator members 32 and 34. A tang 50 is struck from strap 42 and serves as a locating means for a U-shaped bolt 54 which overlies the short strap leg 46 and extends downwardly around both sides of tail pipe 13. A retainer member 56 having an arcuate recess therein is adapted to receive the downwardly extending legs of U-bolt 54 and through nut members 58 secure the retainer member against the tail pipe.

Thus it is apparent that as tail pipe 13 or mufiler 12 expand or contract axially due to temperature changes this adjustment may be accommodated by movement of strap leg 44 relative to the opening 40 formed between insulating straps 32 and 34. In this way the tail pipe and mufller are insulatingly supported upon the frame member without at the same time transmitting expansion stresses to the tail pipe supporting brackets.

A modification of the subject invention is shown in Figure 5 in which the pair of insulating straps are replaced by a single resilient member 60 having an opening 62 formed therethrough. In this modification of the invention the resilient strap 60 is formed of a suitably resilient material such as butyl rubber.

A still further modification of the invention is shown in Figure 6 in which the U-bolt and retainer members are replaced by a conventional coiled pipe clamp 64 whereby the tail pipe is retained upon strap 42.

We claim: r

1. A vehicle tail pipe supporting device including in combination a vehicle frame, a bracket member supported upon said frame and including an arm portion extending therefrom, resilient'insulating means secured to said arm, said means including an opening extending longitudinally of said frame through the insulating means, a strap member including a first leg extending through said opening and freely slidable relative thereto, said strap including means for limiting axial movement of the strap relative to the insulating means, said strap including a second leg spaced from the first leg and also extending longitudinally of said frame, said second leg having an arcuate cross section, a tail pipe adapted to be supported from said second strap leg, and means for clamping said tail pipe to the second leg of said strap.

2. A vehicle tail pipe supporting device including in combination a vehicle frame, a bracket member supported upon said frame and including an arm portion extending therefrom, resilient insulating means secured to said arm, said means including an opening extending longitudinally of said frame through the insulating means, a strap member including a first leg extending through said opening and freely slidable relative thereto, said first leg terminating in a tab portion to prevent the strap from being disassembled from the resilient means, said strap including a second leg spaced from the first leg and also extending longitudinally of said frame, said second leg having an arcuate cross section, a tail pipe adapted to be supported from said second strap leg, and a U-shape bolt and retainer means for suspendingly supporting said tail pipe of the second leg of said strap.

3. A vehicle tail pipe supporting device as set forth in claim 2 in which said strap includes a tab for longitudinally locating said bolt on the second strap leg.

4. A vehicle tail pipe supporting device including in combination a vehicle frame having horizontal and vertical walls, a bracket member supported upon one of said vertical frame walls including an arm portion extending horizontally therefrom, resilient insulating means secured in generally parallel relation to said arm and including an opening extending logitudinally of said frame through the insulating means, a U-shape strap member including a first leg extending through said opening and freely slidable relative thereto, said first leg terminating in a tab portion adapted to coact with the insulating means to prevent the strap from being disassembled therefrom, said strap including a second leg spaced from the first leg and also eXtending longitudinally of said frame, said second leg having an arcuate cross section, a tail pipe adapted to be suspended from said second strap leg, and means for clamping said tail pipe to said strap.

5. A vehicle tail pipe supporting device as set forth in claim 4 in which the insulating means comprises a pair of fiat resilient straps mounted together in face-toface relation, stud means for clamping the ends of said straps to said horizontal bracket arm leavingthe central portions of the straps unclarnped to provide said opening therebetween.

6. A vehicle tail pipe supporting device as set forth in claim 4 in which the horizontal bracket arm includes a transversely raised central portion, the insulating means comprising a generally fiat resilient member having an enlarged central portion, stud means for clamping the ends of said member to the arm so that the enlarged central portion is recessed within the raised central portion of the arm, and further in which said opening is formed through the central enlargement of said resilient insulating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,808 Bradley June 6, 1939 2,227,306 Guy Dec. 31, 1940 2,308,969 Riesing Jan. 19, 1943 

